B789 - worst ever Qantas economy long haul Seats

[travelbites]

Just adding two cents on my most recent and possibly worst ever Qantas economy long haul from Sydney to Dallas on a 757-9. That 9 seat across is a killer - there was so little space that I could barely eat the lacklustre meal because I couldn't move my arms without elbowing my neighbour. The service was interesting as well. I will ensure to check the plane configuration before I book another long haul because this was seriously pokey and unpleasant.

 

[SYD]

Just adding two cents on my most recent and possibly worst ever Qantas economy long haul from Sydney to Dallas on a 757-9. That 9 seat across is a killer - there was so little space that I could barely eat the lacklustre meal because I couldn't move my arms without elbowing my neighbour. The service was interesting as well. I will ensure to check the plane configuration before I book another long haul because this was seriously pokey and unpleasant.

Unfortunately, you’re not going to find too many operators that don’t have 3x3x3 in whY on their B787 aircraft (and probably B777). Also, QF use the same aircraft on PER-LHR & FCO. But I didn’t think there was a huge difference in seat width across airlines but a lot of variation on pitch (and actual seat comfort).

As mentioned earlier, the A380s (QF and others) tend to be that little bit wider.

 

[travelbites]

Unfortunately, you’re not going to find too many operators that don’t have 3x3x3 in whY on their B787 aircraft (and probably B777). Also, QF use the same aircraft on PER-LHR & FCO. But I didn’t think there was a huge difference in seat width across airlines but a lot of variation on pitch (and actual seat comfort).

As mentioned earlier, the A380s (QF and others) tend to be that little bit wider.

Yes, you're probably right. It's been a very long time since I was this uncomfortable on a long haul flight. Just awful all round.

 

[encryptededdy]

The Qantas 787 Economy hard product certainly isn't great, but as mentioned above there's not many airlines that are meaningfully better. In my opinion 10-abreast 777s are even worse, for instance on QR or CX.

JAL's 8-abreast 787 is probably the gold standard, followed by 9-abreast 777s (e.g. Singapore), any A380, and 9-abreast A350s.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Saw 757!

 

[drron]

I have had 1 flight in Y on a QF 787. MEL - BNE.
Even though I had an aisle seat to eat I had to lean into the aisle and naturally got hit by the drinks cart. I never experienced that in y on other QF Y flights or even on JQ.

 

[sap1l]

Surprisingly, I prefer the Y seats on the 787 over the rest of QF’s international fleet.

They are narrower, and I can definitely feel the difference in width. However, I find the slightly extra legroom and the better foot-net much nicer to sleep in.

Additionally, I do feel that the lower cabin pressure and humidity makes a difference - whether this is placebo or not I have no idea.

In face, my biggest complaint about the 787 is the noise!

I’ve flown SIN-SYD on a 380 and 330, as well as SIN-MEL on a 330 and 787. I’ve gotten the most amount of sleep on the 787, followed by the 330, and then the 380. To be fair, the 380’s was very noisy with conversation, as most people were coming from London and therefore very awake overnight!

 

[Mickey Mouse]

Saw 757!

Yep.

But even Uncle Alan wouldn't try 9 abreast in a 757 (wet-leased from United)

 

[Kendall Roy]

I pretty much refuse to fly any 787 in Y for anything over 3 hours, unless it's the JAL model in a 2-4-2 configuration.

There really needs to be ICAO standards when it comes to minimum seat dimensions on international flights. Yeah yeah, I know it'll never happen!

 

[dajop]

Any discussion of economy seats - good or bad - needs to prefaced by peoples height and width/frame.

Somebody who is 5'4 and petite framed saying the love an economy seat is meaningless if you are 6' and broad shouldered.

 

[Kendall Roy]

Any discussion of economy seats - good or bad - needs to prefaced by peoples height and width/frame.

Somebody who is 5'4 and petite framed saying the love an economy seat is meaningless if you are 6' and broad shouldered.

Or the width/frame of the person sitting next to you who spills over....

 

[sap1l]

Any discussion of economy seats - good or bad - needs to prefaced by peoples height and width/frame.

Somebody who is 5'4 and petite framed saying the love an economy seat is meaningless if you are 6' and broad shouldered.

That’s a fair point.

I suppose I lean towards the 787 Y seats because I’m skinny and 6’, with disproportionately long legs. So I value the extra pitch over the extra width.

 

[dk4]

I will ensure to check the plane configuration before I book another long haul because this was seriously pokey and unpleasant.

My general rule of thumb, for economy, is - choose an Airbus over a Boeing, they generally have slightly wider seats (there are caveats, especially some ULCCs).

images source - Airbus calls for airlines to offer minimum 18-inch seat width in long-haul economy

 

[stm1sydney]

Any discussion of economy seats - good or bad - needs to prefaced by peoples height and width/frame.

Somebody who is 5'4 and petite framed saying the love an economy seat is meaningless if you are 6' and broad shouldered.

Or if you are or your neighbour is "volumetric"!

 

[dajop]

Or if you are or your neighbour is "volumetric"!

Yes true, although not necessarily about fat, can also be about broad shoulders and upper body volume as much it is about fat. Whilst if sitting someone who is on the heavier end of obese, it really doesn't matter what economy seat you are in ...

 

[Ansett]

Basically the 787 is a twin Aisled 737 with the same seat width.

787 Stats

Economy
166 David Caon designed Recaro seats arranged in a 3-3-3 pattern.
Seat width: 17.2"
Row pitch: 32"
Seat recline: 6"


737 Stats

Economy
162 Recaro seats arranged 3-3 and feature a 4-way adjustable headrest.
Seat width: 17.2"
Row pitch: 30" (37" at overwing exit rows 13 and 14)
Seat recline: 5" (seats in rows 12 and 13 do not recline)

Other than a little more recline and better pitch I can't see the difference between the 787 and 737. I am uncomfortable after 2-3 hours in Y on a 737 so no way would I do Y on Long Haul on the 787.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I think the key question in determining comfort in economy on a wide body irrespective of airline is where you are seated. In particular, the emergency exit row seats above at the wings of most 787s provide 50 inches of seat pitch (if not more) since there needs to be sufficient space for emergency exits. I have taken many flights with United on the 787 in economy seated in that row and found it actually quite comfortable.

Now if you are a casual traveller that doesn't mind these things, then yeah, you'll be stuck in a middle seat with next to no leg room. But that's why you mind the seat!

 

[1022]

I also read somewhere that airlines can play silly buggers with how they measure width, in part to conceal how narrow 9 across 787s and 10 across 777s really are compared to other members of their fleets.

There isn’t a standard definition for width the same way there is for pitch (measured from one seat to the same point on the seat in front.) e.g. width of a seat cushion at its widest part is pointless for shoulder comfort if the flimsy plastic armrests are barely more than the width of a pencil.

 

[BD1959]

I once flew LHR-PER in an aisle at the back - alongside the toilets, one of the last rows of 3 in the outer block. I was continually knocked from pillar to post and - per etiquette - gave up the armrest to the occupant of the middle seat who was of ... a larger frame. Once was enough, I've never been so uncomfortable in my life and vowed never to fly QF Y on the 787 again ... that was at least 5 years ago and I'm still true to my word.

Regards,

BD

 

[WilsonM]

Just adding two cents on my most recent and possibly worst ever Qantas economy long haul from Sydney to Dallas on a 757-9. That 9 seat across is a killer - there was so little space that I could barely eat the lacklustre meal because I couldn't move my arms without elbowing my neighbour. The service was interesting as well. I will ensure to check the plane configuration before I book another long haul because this was seriously pokey and unpleasant.

I would stay clear of any LCC's then
QF's A350s are coming in a 3-3-3, so that should give them an extra inch or so over the 787-9s. This should be slightly more than the A321XLR's 18 inches.

Just gotta hope that no one gets any more ideas from French Bee (16 inch wide seats in 10-abreast A350s!), or Air Asia's A330s. Those are real crowded...